The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-27
Important Measures That Called for the At
tention of Representatives Regarding the
School Fund and State Indebtedness.
The Routine of the Joint Convention
Still Followed Without Incident.
The Civil-Service Plan for the State Comes
Unfavorable Reports Legislative Notes.
REPORTS FROM COMMITTEE.
School Loan Interest and Civil Service 70



School Loan Interest and Civil Service for
the State.
The Democrats in the General Assembly were |
On their good behavior yesterday. Had it not
been for the joint convention proceedings party |
lines would have been lost in the general atten-
sion to legislative matters There is not bill |
sufficiently advanced to cause much earnest dis
cussion, and with one or two exceptions, poll
ties does not underly any of the measures within |
the charge of committees. Some of the would |
be laws that have come out of the ehrysalis |
state have had tendency to spur the members |
30 speeches for future use among their constitu- |
ancies, but these efforts, for the most part, ex
posed their want of sincerity. For example, |
two or three bills in the House seek to reduce |
the interest on money borrowed from the school |
fund. No doubt there is an honest expression |
In favor of reduction, well as forcible argu
ment againstit, but the anxiety which many
Representatives. expressed, yesterday, to speak
in favor of a low Interest, suggested the proba-
bility Of individual political claims to be en-
forced in the next Champaign. The committee on
judiciary has had before it since the first
Day of the sesssfon Representative Peasants's
9Tl radlcing tie interest on these loans to per
cent AS to the merits of the bill the committee
divided, the ms jority reporting in favor of its
indefinite postponement, while the minority
asked to have it passed. A motion to substitute
the minority for the majority report opened the
Acid for all takers, and they responded with
considerable earnestness. The 6 per cent sup
Dorters had q good deal to say about the oppres-
aiveness of the present per cent. and that with
this rate thousands of dollars remained in the
treasures solely because the poor, who are the
borrowers could not stand the price Of such
loans They maintained that money in Indiana
was not worth per cent. If the school fund in
forest was reduced to 6 per cent the,fund would
be better off, as much of the money now idle
would be in the hands of borrowers. 1t was the
idea of those sustaining the proposition to post
pone the question indefinitely that an interest
lower than per cent would seriously reduce
the income from the fund. They also met
the cheap money argument by saying
that it would be difficult to get loans at aless av
erage than per cent The low interest side,
however, had the best of 1t, even a compro-
mise offered by Representative Mock to place the
Interest at PER cent This proposition was
tabled, and the yeas and nays on substituting
She minority for the majority report carried the
per cent. proper through without any difficulty
They had nearly three -fourths of the Represent
atives with them.
Representative Green introduced a measure of
signal importance The bill was accompanied
ty preamble referring to the %, 9O4, !63 indebt-
edness of the Slate to the common school fund
which is represented IN noD-negotaule per
cent int est bearing bonds. The semi annual
interest on these bonds is paid into the tuition
fund from the school revenue 1t is believed, the
preamble further stated, that this Indebtedness
can be refunded for period OF twenty years at
81 per centum, payable semi annually. The
bill proposes TO effect this purpose by
empowering the Governor, Auditor aud Treas
urer of State to borrow 81 900 600 at 81 per cent.
Il llx, I'm, Anvil arA( ~
To secure ;n.s money the officers named are to
be authorized to issue twenty bonds of 5000, 900
each TO maArre April 10, 1907. Each bond Is to
have forty $500 interest warrants attached,
PAYABLE at Winsow, Lauier q Co.'S bank, New
York. Provision is made for the sale OF these
bohds on April TO- this year, after sufficient ad-
vertising in New York newspaper, to the hrst
person or persons bidding Ii all the bonds
are not then sold the sale is to be continued on
the 10th Of the following October. The money
received from this source is to be distributed
among the several counties as part of the school
fund, but any excess Of 81. 600. 600 arising from
the sale is to be credited TO the States general
fund 1t is also stipulated in this bill that the
interest on all loans of common school money
shall be per cent
The judiciary committee is not unanimous on
civil service regulations for Indiana. 1t is the
opinion of the minority, for whom Representa-
tive Gordon spoke, that tho State eau get along
without such service. The majority, though, re
ported on Representative Gri6iths' bill, recon-
mending Its passage. It is the purpose Of this
measure to have the Governor, within one
mouth after the act takes effect. appoint four
civil-service commissioners, equally divided al
to political affiliations. These commissioners
are to hold no other official place under the
State government and the Governor 10 to be- e,
oficio, the fifth commissioner, with the casting
vote in case OF a tie. 1t Will be the duty OF tn
commissioners to prepare rules for the selection
OF appointive officers and employees OF the State
and report to the General Assembly at the be
ginning OF each regular session.
The bill then stipulates that no recommended
ton of any person applying for office or place
except as the character or residence OF the ap
picant, shall be received considered by an.
person concerned in making any examination o
appointm ent under this act; that no person hold
ing Office or place in the State OF Indiana. or II
any county city, town. other political division
thereof shall be concerned in soliciting receiv
ing any assessment. subscription or contribution
for any political purpose, or In giving the sam
to any person prohibited from receiving it a
aforesaid: that no person shall, in any room o
building occupied for the discharge of ofica
duties bJ any officer or employe OF thi
other political division thereof, solicit or re
ceive any contribution for any political purpose
that no onioer or employe of the State shall dis
charge. promote, degrade or change the oficis
rank or compensation of any other officer o
employee or promise threaten to do so, 10
giving or withholding any contribution for poll
ical purpose or on account OF thu poiitlcai opir
ions Of such officer or employee; that no perso
In the service of this State, OF OF any county
aity town, or other political division thereo
shall use his official authority or influence. eiths
to coerce the political action of any person {
body, or 10 interfere with any election; that \
person in the public service as af-e..ssaid, shall
TOR that reason, be under any obligation to col
tribute to any political fund or render any polite
service, nor shall any such person be remove
OF otherwise prejudiced for refusing to do s
that no person, while holding seeking an
public office. shall use, or promise to use, an
ofhcial authority or influence possessed or anti
ipatea by him, TO confer upon any person, or
aid any person In securing any Office or place.
any promotion, increase of salary, or other a.
vantage therein, upon the consideration that Il
yofe or political influence of the last-named pc